Alabama spring football news and notes

Alabama linebacker Alex Watkins (91) during the second spring football practice session in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wednesday, March 23, 2011. (The Birmingham News/Mark Almond)

TUSCALOOSA -- Nick Saban's voice sounded a little raspy Saturday after the completion of Alabama's first week of practice.He said the Crimson Tide has shown improvement, but noted passing and catching the football had been an issue. Saturday's indoor practice helped eliminate the wind, and Saban credited the receivers with making progress.Saban said the defensive line needs to show more physical toughness this week, and he praised the offensive line."The offensive line has done a pretty good job of getting a hat on a hat, blocking people and finishing, and the runners have done a good job of finding the holes, so that has been a good thing," Saban said.WHAT'S NEXT? Alabama will hold its fifth spring practice Monday afternoon, its third in full pads. Alabama will practice three times this week before holding its first scrimmage Saturday afternoon.

Saban said those three days will deal with installing offensive and defensive formations and plays for Saturday's scrimmage. Next week will focus on looking at opponents."We try to get most of what we do in by then, even though we may not scrimmage all those things next Saturday," Saban said. "We have an installation schedule. We try to expose our players to a lot of things."WHAT TO WATCH: The status of Alabama sophomores Robby Green and Brandon Moore are in doubt. They are serving suspensions for violating team policy. When -- and if -- they return is unknown because Saban said the suspensions are indefinite.

Alabama junior Tyler Love suffered a concussion last week at practice. He spent some time working at center before he returned to work with the offensive tackles. The extent of his injury is unknown.INJURY REPORT: Alabama players who wore black non-contact jerseys the first week of practice include safety Mark Barron (pectoral muscle), linebacker Jonathan Atchison (biceps), defensive back Nick Perry (shoulder), tight end Brad Smelley (wrist) and defensive back Jarrick Williams (shoulder).

ANOTHER SUCCESS: Saban spoke proudly Saturday about his annual coaches clinic, which welcomed more than 1,000 coaches for the three-day deal.

Registered guests were treated to presentations from Saban, former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and former Miami coach Randy Shannon, among others. They also were invited to watch Friday and Saturday practices in their entirety.

"We offer hospitality so we can give back professionally to our peers, the high school coaches, who do so much to help us in terms of developing players we have success with here, as well as help us with recruiting and all the things they do to impact young people to do what they want to do," Saban said.